Animal trap



i n H I v i I w O i 1 April 16, 1929 w, A, GIBBS 1,709,719

ANIMAL TRAP Original Filed May 11, 1923 3 Sheets-Sneak 5 546.5%? Q%W#M6 April 16, 1929. w, A, 6, 55 1,709,719

ANIMAL TRAP OriginalFiled May 11, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet April 6, 1929. w. A. GIBBS 1,709,719

ANIMAL TRAP Origina File M y 11. 192: s Sheets-Shet 3 Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNITED stares mane WALTER A. areas, or HOLLY OAK, DELAWARE.

ANIMAL TRAP.

Original application filed May 11, ie aalseriai No. 638,212. Divided and this application filed Ap1il 2;8,

' 1924. Serial N0.-709,593. v a

This invention relates to animal traps,

and resides in the novel and advantageous Fig. 4 is a plan view of another trap em-' bodying a feature of the invention;

Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view ofthe trap illustrated in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66, Fig.4.

With reference to the drawings, the trap in each instance comprises a pair of cooperatiiig jaws 1, 1, mounted upon a suitable frame or base 2 and actuated by mean of a spring or springs 3, 3, operating through the medium of a lever 4 adapted to force the jaws together. The lever 4c is commonly made, as illustrated, with an aperture 5, and when the trap is sprung embraces the arms in a well known manner.

It is customary'in using apparatus of this type and with a closing lever of the type illustrated, to so arrange the actuating springs 3, 3, that one end ofthe'spring, or of each of the springs when more than one is employed, bears against the said lever, the other end of the spring bearing against a suitable part of the frame, or, where the trap involves two sets of jaws, against the latter. With this construction, there is a tendency for the spring ends underlying the lever 4 to move inwardly under the aperture and to bear against the sides of the jaws 1, -1, or against the sides of the upstanding portion 6 of theframe 2, in which the jaws 1, 1, are journaled, this, by reason of .the frictional bearing of the spring ends against the said parts, materially reducing theeificiency of the trap in operation.

In the present instance I provide means for retaining. the spring-ends entirely clear of theaperture 5 and underneath the solid portions of the lever. 4, thereby preventing contact of the springends with the 'jaws or with the frame. Although various means may be employed for so holding the ends of the springs, I have found it of advantage to form lugs 7, 7, which project from the under side of the lever 4 and prevent movement of the spring ends beyond the side edges of the rod 17.

aperture 5, these lugs being formed in the present instance bystamping out and bending down portions of the lever, as clearly illustrated. I r Figures l to 6, inclusive, while illustrating traps different in detail from those'illus- I trated in the remaining figures, still involve elements corresponding to the previously designated parts of theother traps, andthe' same reference numerals are used in these views as in the preceding views to denotethe correspondingparts. Thus, for example, in Figs. '4, 5 and 6,'the ends of the springs of which in this instance there are two, are held clear of the sides oftlie aperture 5 of said levers and of the jaws 1, 1, and the.

.uptur ied portion 6 of theframe 2 by means of downturned lugs .7, 7 as previously described in connection withFig's. 1, 2 and 3.

A further feature .of the invention resides in a novel method of mounting the springs 3, 3, which actuate the closing levers 4, and is illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive. It is customary in traps of the type involved, to mount the coiled springs which operate the closing levers .on= rods suitably secured to the fiaineand usually constituting the-pivot for the closing lever. In the usual construction, however, this, spring-holding rod is riveted or otherwise permanently secured in '3, 3, which operate the. closing levers a, 1, 7

the structure and constitutes a fixed part of the frame. In the present instance, I pro-f vide a novel means for securingthis rod 111. the frame which greatly fac litates assembly of the parts of the trap and provides means for facilitating detachment of the spring for replacement.

In Figs.- 4, 5 and 6, I have shown the arrangement as applied to traps of the'jdouble lever type employing a separate spring for each ofthe levers 1, a. The trap in this instancecompr ses the frame cross arms 11 and 12,'tl1earm 11 of the framein this instance, being provided with two of the 6, one loop beingplaced on each side of the 1 arm 12of the base. holdingmeans for the ends of a U-shaped These loops. constitute The cross part ofthe U-shaped rod 1. aforedescribed loops 14:, illustrated in F ig I In this instance, two springs 3, 3, are employed, which operate respectively the closing levers l, 4, one end of each of the springs underlying its respective lever, and the other end'underlying the arm 12 ofthe base.

The springs exert a normal pressure tendingv to hold the rod 17 down against the top of the arm 12 of the base, and the springsv also function in the present instance in conjunction With the turned out ends of the rod 17 to prevent longitudinal movement of the rod 17 through the loops. The respective ends of the rod 17 which occupy the said loops l l also, as in the present instance, constitute pivot shafts for the closing levers 4, l;

I claun:

1. In an animal trap, the combination with animal-gripping elements, of a substantially flat .apertin'ed operating lever for the lat ter, a flange at the s de-edge of the lever,

'a'projection adjacent the edge of the. said aperture, and an actuating spring having one endbearing against the side of the lever and conlined'betwe-en said flange and. projection.

2. In an animal. trap, the combination. with animal-gripping elements, oil-a substantially flat apertured' operating lever for the latter, an actuating spring having one end bearing against the side of the lever, and a projection from the; side or the lever adjacent the edge of said apertureaml adapted to prevent movement of the sprlng past the edge of said aperture.

3. In an animal trap, the combination with a base, of an1mal-gr1pp1ng elements mounted on the base, an actuating saring,

i l. In an animal trap, the combination with a spring. for actuating the elements, a sub stantially 'U-shaped'rod having its ends established'in said loops and constituting a support for the spring, and means preventmg accidental withdrawal of the ends of the 7 rod from said loops. j

5. In an animal trap, the comblnation With a base, of animal-gripping elements mounted on the base, an actuating spring for the said elements, a U-shaped mounting for the spring having its ends detachably secured in the base, and means including as an element the said spring for positively preventmg aee1-. dental detachment of "the ends of the said support from the base. 1

6. In an animal trap, the combination with a base, of animal-gripping elements mounted on the base, a pair of spaced loops in the base, a U-shaped element having its ends eX tending through the loops, said ends being bent to prevent accidental Withdrawal from the loops, and a spring mounted 011 the U- shaped member and adapted toactuatethe said gripping elements.

7 In an animal trap, the combination with a base having divergent members, 01' animal gripping elements mounted on the base, a pair of spaced loops on one ot the members 7 at opposite sides of the other of said members, a U-shaped member having its ends established in said loops and overlying the said divergent base member, and springs mounted on the rods and adapted to actuate the said elements.

8. In an annnal trap, the combination with a )air of )ivotall mounted coactino' 'aws. O

of a pair of closing levers adapted respectively to operate on opposite'endsof the jaws to bring the latter together, an independent torsion spring for actuating each of said levers, and means for supporting said springs in positions substantially at .rlght axis of said. jaws. V

In an animal trap, the combination with a base, of a ,pairo'l pivotally mounted enacting jaws carried by the base, a pair or" closing levers'adaptedto operateupon said jaws, a single spring for actuating'each of said closing levers, and a single shaft 0on stituting supports for the springs and journals lior the said levers.

10. In an animal trap, the combination with a base, of a pair of coacting jaws pivotally mounted in said base, a pair of closing levers adapted to operate upon the jaws, a single spring for actuating each of the levers, and a single element detachablysecured in the base and constituting a support for the springs and journalsfor the said closing levers. 7 v

11. In an animal trap, the combination With a base, of a pair of eoaeting jaws pivotally mounted in the base, a pair of pivotal clos ing levers operating upon the jaws, springs l or actuating said levers,,an element detachably secured to the base and constituting" a support for the springs and a journal for the. levers, and means including the: springs for normally positively preventing aecidentail detachment or" the said support and .journal elementfrom the base.

WALTER A. -.GIBBS.

angles to and offset transversely from the 

